“We have fun and there’s great team spirit" Nemat, Customer Assistant
Nemat worked for a competitor before joining Lidl part-time. He soon decided to go full-time and is now planning on working his way up the career ladder.
And what does your role involve?
When I joined, I was pretty much just focused on the shop floor; ensuring there were no gaps on the shelves, making sure we delivered good customer service and satisfied customers’ needs, working on the tills. I started part-time just to get to know the company, but I've since gone full-time. I’ve also just started training to be a Bakery Coordinator.
Dealing with customers is brilliant because it makes every day different. It's nice to meet people from different backgrounds and age groups and make sure that each customer leaves with a smile on their face. We have quite a few regular customers in our store who really appreciate our service.
What do you like most about working at Lidl?
As I say, it's the environment. You always have two supervisors working per shift and you have a good bond with them. In some other retail stores that can be quite difficult. At Lidl, they are always there for you to ask anything you need. Also, instead of having 5 or 10 similar products, they only have maybe two, so, the range is smaller. Lidl keep it simple, but efficient.
The pay is great and being recognised for your work is a good thing - Lidl does that all the time. So, that’s amazing. When you do a good job, the Store Manager will tell you, which really motivates us.
What are your plans for the future?
I actually approached the Store Manager recently and mentioned that I want to get back into management. He was really happy about that, and they’ve been really supportive. Lidl always like to see progression, because at the end of the day it’s good for them as well and I’ve started my training already, which is great! I'm getting a lot of support during my shift and if there’s anything new, they always show me how to deal with it.
Shift Manager will be my next step, and then hopefully I'll move up the ladder from there. We have stores opening every month, so there are a lot of opportunities here. There's always a chance for you to move up as long as you work hard. It’s been so nice working here - I worked at a competitor previously and Lidl is by far the best. I just love it, it's such a nice environment to work in.
What four words would you use to describe Lidl?
Friendly. Helpful. Quality. Service.